ABV 45.2%
The nose is a little peculiar at first, but the solid flavours put those doubts to rest.
Laura Foster
Highland Park
Brand
Fire Edition, Aged 15 Years
Expression
Single Malt
Type
15
Age (Years)
2017
Year of Bottling
45.2%
ABV
Islands (Non Islay)
Region/Country
Standard (Distillery or blended)
Bottling Type
Taster
Nose: Aromas of Jamaican gingerbread, funky farmyard (similar to Brettanomyces), rubber and orange juice mingle with sea breeze and sticking plasters.
Palate: Initially soft and sweet, with juicy orange, nutmeg, powdered cinnamon and ginger, before a salt-lined stick of charcoal draws a line across the palate. Pine resin and Szechuan pepper pop up too.
Finish: The gingerbread cake makes a comeback, with 70 per cent dark chocolate.
Comment: The nose is a little peculiar at first, but the solid flavours put those doubts to rest.
Score: 8
Taster
Nose: Lively. A contrast between sharp red fruits and gentle smokiness. Very coastal, with citrus and a hint of nutmeg. Coal dust. Once it’s faded, notes of vanilla and strawberry jam.
Palate: Cinnamon up-front, with acidic, tart redcurrant and a slightly charred, bitter-smoke sensation rather than sweet-peat. Sun-dried tomatoes and oranges, suddenly tropical. Salty.
Finish: Woody, spicy, ashy. But there’s just something a bit lopsided about it all.
Comment: Brave, but the puckering acidity and ashy smoke don’t sit too well together.
Score: 7.9
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